Birthday wishes, of course! Warren Buffett turns 80 tomorrow, and he's still going strong with no plans for retirement. We asked some of his friends, business associates, acquaintances and others to send greetings.
Cuando un Líder se acerca a la cima, después de un largo trayecto, lo que queda cincelado en su corazón para siempre; es la mirada tierna, pícara y feliz, de un niño profundamente agradecido por haber hecho posible su sueño. ¡Felicidades!
(Translation: When a leader nears the pinnacle after a long journey, what remains forever carved in his heart is the tender, mischievous and happy gaze of a child profoundly content about having been able to achieve his dream. Congratulations!)
Vicente Fox Quesada, former president of Mexico
I'm occasionally asked, ‘Don't you do the same thing that Warren Buffett does?' And I always reply, ‘Yes, in the same way that any slow, 5-foot-4-inch basketball player does the same thing that Michael Jordan does. The ball is the same size and hoop is the same height, but the results for me and Warren are vastly different.'
Michael McCarthy, CEO, McCarthy Group, Omaha
You look great at 80, my friend, because as you've said, you never worked a day of your life. For you, each day at the office is a vacation, and all that tap-dancing to work down Farnam Street has kept you young.
Walter Scott Jr., chairman emeritus, Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc., Omaha
Happy birthday to one of our heroes and the perfect business partner, and a great friend.
Irv and Ron Blumkin, Nebraska Furniture Mart
When it comes to putting Omaha on the map, the only name better known than Mutual of Omaha is Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha. Happy birthday and thank you for all you've done for our city.
Dan Neary, president and CEO, Mutual of Omaha
In 2001, you gave my 8-year-old daughter a tour of your office. You drank Cherry Cokes together and laughed about the Geico gecko. You photocopied her hand and told her nobody in the world had a hand like hers. Later, she said, ‘He's more of a kid than I am.' Congratulations on turning 80 years young.
L.J. Rittenhouse, author, “Buffett's Bites”
Back in 1960 I hired you to teach six classes on Intelligent Investing at Omaha University. Students paid $18 each. You told the class upfront: ‘The first three weeks I shoot Santa Claus, and during the next three weeks I will explain to you that there is still Christmas.' Some of your students from those days, who invested, believe that there is a Santa ... and you are it. Happy birthday and best wishes.
Mike Beilis, Academy of Senior Professionals, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Fla.
I hope that you have found that Methuselah gene, threatening his 969-year record. That leaves you with 889 years to continue your cherished artistry in painting the Berkshire canvas as only you can, while inspiring others through your writings, lectures, interviews and charitable giving.
Paul Lountzis, president, Lountzis Asset Management, Wyomissing, Pa.
Happy birthday, Warren Buffett. Thank you for your commitment of helping Glide make things happen for the poor and the have-nots. Because of your generosity, Glide can express its concern and bring compassion and hope to those most in need.
Janice Mirikitani and the Rev. Cecil Williams, founders of the Glide Foundation, a favorite charity of Buffett's first wife, the late Susan Thompson Buffett, and the recipient of funds raised in an annual “lunch with Warren” auction
A Turkish proverb says, ‘No road is long with good company.' As you celebrate your 80th, we celebrate you. Our lives have been immeasurably improved by your good company.
Peter Kaufman, editor, “Poor Charlie's Almanack”
Warren? Oh — do you mean Susie's dad? We always called him Dr. Thompson's son-in-law. Happy birthday, Warren. You make Omaha proud.
Anne and Mike Boyle, members, Nebraska Public Service Commission and Douglas County Board, respectively, Omaha
Since Warren acquired National Indemnity and National Fire & Marine Insurance in 1967, he has grown our statutory net worth from under $7 million to almost $65 billion today. Warren will celebrate his 50th anniversary with us in 2017 at the young age of 86. Assuming he continues his admittedly acceptable performance until then, we are seriously considering taking him off probationary status with us at that time.
Don Wurster, CEO, National Indemnity Co., Omaha
Life can be very unfair. Why should one person be the sagest, most generous, most humble and most humorous? Imagine being a Cornhusker in New York? The only question I get is, ‘Do you know Warren Buffett?' It's almost like, ‘Do you know God?' Alas, he deserves the accolades. Oh, well, there's always the second life. Happy birthday, dear friend.
P.S. Oh, to be 80 again!
Peter G. Peterson, 84, investment banker, former U.S. Commerce secretary, Nebraska native
I once asked Warren whether he would accept a knighthood from the Queen of England. After a long pause — clearly, he'd never thought of it — he said no, with conviction. His classically American world view is a rarity today: It treats wealth not as a source of luxury but as a means to independence, and independence as a means to undermine servility and elevate those of natural talent. Thomas Jefferson would be proud.
Alice Schroeder, Buffett biographer
Happy 80th birthday to our good friend and favorite tenant. You inspire us with your business brilliance and reassure us with your prompt rent payments. As you celebrate this special milestone, you have our best wishes for ever-increasing age inflation.
Your friends at Kiewit, owner of Kiewit Plaza, headquarters of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Warren's friend Philip Carret, legendary Pioneer Fund founder, was still managing portfolios when he died at age 101 in 1998. He began hosting annual 100th birthday parties for himself when he turned 90 (in case he didn't make the real thing). Warren once observed, ‘Phil must be the oldest man on Wall Street — imagine celebrating his 10th 100th birthday!'
Warren, today we all toast you, as proof that although you can't avoid growing older, you never have to grow old. May you live 100 years, and outlive all the bears. (How come that doesn't rhyme?)
Frank Betz, Carret/Zane Capital Management, Warren, N.J.
Happy 80th birthday, Warren, from the Himalayan mountains of Bhutan. It seems that you and this remote country south of Tibet have much in common: The Bhutanese were very slow to embrace technology, being the last ones to connect to television, the Internet and mobile phones. Instead of measuring Gross National Product, they measure Gross Happiness Product. In light of these similarities and in honor of your birthday, the king is considering changing a few letters in his country's name to the Kingdom of Buffett.
Robert Miles, author, “The Warren Buffett CEO”
You mentioned in an annual report that you are aging at a much slower rate, percentage-wise, than managers at almost all other major corporations. I'm hopeful we'll get to see you increasing at a 1 percent (or less) rate before you wrap up your career at Berkshire. For Berkshire shareholders, the investment has been both fantastic and educational. Anyone who is paying attention will learn a lot about the company, business and good thinking processes. Not many stocks offer that kind of combination reward.
Rick Mayhew, St. Louis, member, Yellow Brk-ers stockholders' club
Warren, thanks for making integrity and moral courage an essential part of good business. You are a Beacon of Ethics and we appreciate how you shine your light from Omaha.
Omaha Business Ethics Alliance
You left the grocery business years ago after learning that you can sell Coca-Cola at a much higher price than you paid for it at Buffett & Son Grocery. We are happy that you moved on, because we really like using the old Buffett Grocery building for our Dundee Bank. We give apples away at the bank, and in case things don't work out for you when you get older, we could use your help figuring out how we can sell those apples for more money than we pay for them. Seriously, you have been helpful to us in many mysterious ways. Happy birthday.
Bill Brush and Dundee Bank, a branch of Security State Bank of Ansley, Neb.
Contact the writer:
444-1080, steve.jordon@owh.com
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